Best Gaming Laptops 2017 – Buyer’s Guide

I guess you’ll agree with me when I say:

Getting the best gaming laptop nowadays is getting really hard!

Well it turns out that many of the gaming laptop guides out there may not be fulfilling as you’d have thought. In this guide, we will present to you the best gaming laptops available right now; all you have to do is read on…

We also include more laptops for gaming with different features, including the best budget gaming laptop in the market today. Laptops differ widely in terms of features such as screen resolution, graphic cards, and price, but we have tested found the best gaming laptops for money in the market today, which you can see in the overview table below.

These laptop may not be suited for everyone’s budget or taste, but what we do know for certain is that these models are the best of all the gaming laptops we tried and they have made it onto our list of the top ten best gaming laptops 2017.

Why the Latest Acer Predator 21 X is not on my list of best gaming laptops

I guess you’re aware of the latest mammoth gaming laptop, unveiled by Acer at the Consumer Electronics Show 2017. To be honest this laptop is not for any average gamer, it will set you back a whopping $9, 000.

In simple terms this is the Bugatti Veyron of gaming laptops, and the manufacturer has not taken into consideration who buys it and for what. That is for another day, but in no time this laptop will ever make to our best gaming laptops 2017 list. Warning most of the laptops here will cost you a fortune, however, if you want a cheap gaming laptop then please go here

Review of Best High-End Gaming Laptops

Our first best gaming laptop is the little-known gaming beast, the Razer Blade – QHD+ by RazerZone, the same company behind ‘Project Valerie’ a crazy gaming laptop concept that dons not just one, but three 4K screens for the ultimate gaming experience.

Back to Razer Blade, You will be shocked the powerful components that have been squeezed into this 0.7” thick laptop. If you want to enjoy new games like the soon to be released Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, this is the best gaming laptop to buy now.

From design to specifications, the pc stacks incredible features that will blow you away.

Do keep in mind that this laptop gets hot within 10 minutes. However, it is easy to limit GPU performance to prevent the laptop from heating up by using NVIDIA Inspector to limit frames per second of maximum GPU temperature. The good thing is that it can be set per game.

Measuring merely 0.70-inches thin, with a charming display, the Razer Blade gaming laptop has more power any other laptop in our list. Another great thing about this gaming laptop is that it is powered by the latest Intel Core i7 processor and the cutting-edge NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M graphics. It remains the thinnest and most powerful 14-inch gaming laptop in the world, beating the Alienware 13 and MSI GS63VR Stealth Pro to the top of our list.

The conspicuous tri-snake green logo stands out from the rest. It comes with a glowing and a beckoning appeal. There is an obsidian-colored metal that makes the interior such a cool material. The multi-colored keys look like fireworks when working against a jet black sky.

The slim chassis limits various ports on the side. That notwithstanding, it’s designed to ensure incredible gaming experience. There is a USB 3.0 port to the right. Comes along with a full-HDMI port and a slot for Kensington lock. It also comes with a Thunderbolt 3 port, in anticipation of the superb graphics amplifier. This helps in hooking up with even a 4K display. The left side features a pair of USB 3.0 ports, power cord, and headset jacks.

The Blade’s full HD (1920×1080) display has proven that matte is not necessarily lackluster. As for the color accuracy, the New Razer Blade-QHD+ produces 1.5 on the Delta-E test. This gaming laptop produced 289 nits in the brightness test better than the category average of 246 nits. Both the Alienware 13 and Stealth Pro scored below the Blade, with their 271 and 242 nits respectively. The touch display makes gaming on this modern Blade laptop a brilliant laptop in the market.

The trackpad and keyboard are awesome. We’ve used and reviewed dozens of gaming laptops mostly high-end laptops and have not used a trackpad or typed on keyboard as nice as what this laptop has. The only laptop even close is the MacBook Pro. The sizeable 4.1×2.5-inch Synaptics touchpad is made with a smooth feel. It has correct gestures including 3-finger swipe and 2-finger scroll.

The Chroma island-style keyboard is simply an amazing feature for the new Razer Blade-QHD+. There are 6 lighting effects. They include the Wave, Spectrum, Reactive, Ripple, Cycling, Static, and Breathing. They combine with the possible 16.8 million colors that are reproduced by each key on the keyboard. Using this keyboard is simply an amazing experience.

I must acknowledge the discrete keys provided by the Razer Gaming Laptop. However, they would have been better if they were thicker.

Overall, the Razer Blade-QHD+ is a good gaming laptop designed for quality gaming. It is an impressive gaming laptop that offers value for the money you pay for it. Sure, its GPU has some performance issues especially when its frames per second of maximum GPU temperature are not limited. But considering the price to performance ratio and then compare to the rest of the gaming laptops, the New Razer Blade-QHD+ is perhaps one of the best gaming laptops you can buy in the market right now.

PROS:

Thin gaming laptop has been designed with state-of-the-art performance

Gone are the days when quality gaming thrived on desktop PCs. The ACER Predator 17 X is our next monster gaming laptop to be featured on our best gaming laptops 2017.

If you are a hardcore gamer, you need a modern computer to enjoy the newly released titles. Acer has put in everything you would love in a modern gaming laptop. From the NVIDIA 980 desktop graphics card to the built-in overclocking tool, you can be sure to enjoy a powerhouse gaming laptop.

While most of its competitors suffer from overheating, ACER Predator 17 X does not. It can last longer without heating up. With customizable macro keys, the machine appears incredibly modern.

Make no mistake; the ACER Predator 17 X is a full-stack gaming powerhouse. Its minimalistic black design that is complemented by red accents and a glowing logo makes it appear awesome. The LED lights that include the two stripes on the cover are a manifestation of class. Many confuse the machine’s size for lack of power. This is not the case.

Featuring a posh, large wrist rest, the machine comes with a button to turn on or off the touchpad. Isn’t that what any gamer is looking for? From hard buttons that have an illuminated edge to a customizable 4-zone, multi-colored backlighting for the chiclet keyboard, Acer has put in everything that gaming enthusiasts love.

The pounds Predator 17 X is a gaming beast built for strength. Unlike most systems whose such weights overcomes the chassis capacity, Acer knew what to do here. No budging or creaking whatsoever. Notably, the machine lacks the optical drive. On the brighter side, this helps in strengthening the chassis. Most machines are weak thanks to the big open space where the drive sits. The battery is built-in. From a single panel, mechanical and SSD hard drives, as well as the RAM, are secured.

Like you would expect, there is plenty of space to accommodate many ports. ACER Predator 17 X features two USB 3.0 ports, mic and headphone jacks, and an SDcard reader – all on the left flank. To the right, two more USB 3.0 ports, HDMI and DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 port, and Ethernet. This makes connectivity on the gaming machine quite easy. It blends in both the modern and old-school connection technologies. This laptop comes with a Bluetooth 4.0 and a WiFi 802.11 AC adapter. This makes wireless connectivity a convenient deal.

Made with a quirk, the Acer Predator 17 X has a perfectly designed keyboard. The fully-sized key layouts will give you a great gaming convenience. Made for uniqueness, there are 5 macro keys on the left of the keyboard. They can be assigned to specific actions. A touchpad lockout key is also available. The backlit keyboard is a thriller for gaming.

It comes with two display options, the ACER Predator 17 X comes with both 1080p (full HD), and a 4K (Ultra HD) monitors choices.

With the NVIDIA G-Sync support, this machine guarantees quality, smooth and flawless gaming on any of the resolutions. The system works for all modern game titles without lag.

Performance and Specifications

Performance has always been the controversial aspect for all portable gaming machines. ACER Predator 17 X has excelled in this. With a desktop grade 980 graphics card, the machine delivers impressively on any title thrown to it. While this appears shorter than the GTX 1070 series in the likes of Gigabyte P57X and MSI GT62VR Dominator Pro, the GPU works incredibly well to offer unrivaled gaming power. The machine can support 4K resolutions.

When gaming, the 3 fans can be heard working. They, however, do not get loud. The keyboard remains cool even after hours of gaming. The speakers are made to produce quality sound making the game even more fun.

At maximum settings for most modern games on 4K resolutions, the machine might not give you 60 fps. That notwithstanding, the GeForce 980 packs a strong punch. Considering the power demand, the battery life is approximately 2 hours.

As a high-end gaming laptop, features, performance, and style are of essence. Even though the machine is pricey, Acer has taken care of all the above requirements. The middling performance at the 4K resolution and high settings is a challenge that ACER Predator 17 X must address. This will improve on frame rates thus better performance. Nevertheless, the Acer gaming laptop is a top-of-the-line gaming monster you should hunt with.

Unlike most slim systems in the market, the MSI VR GS63VR Stealth Pro is a modern gaming machine that never sacrificed on performance. With its super-powerful Core i7 CPU, the machine combines with the NVIDIA Pascal video card to offer unmatched performance. The 15-inch MSI gaming laptop is designed to replace the powerful desktop gaming machines with the obvious difference on the portability and weight.

Better yet, the slim gaming system is powerful enough to support VR headsets including HTC Vive and Oculus Rift comfortably. The machine is characterized by the enormous performance with a small frame. The unpleasant heat on the keyboard when gaming is a downside, though. MSI features an exclusive ‘SHIFT’ technology that creates a reliable balance between performance and temperatures. You can push the system to the extreme while lowering noise and heat levels. The dynamic balancing enables one to switch between profiles with the FN+F7 hotkey combo. This can be done from the Dragon Gaming Center.

There is a lot that has been stack into this ultra-slim 4.2-pound chassis. MSI VR GS63VR Stealth Pro is a masterpiece of its kind. The market features quality 15-inch slim, gaming machines. The MSI laptop is one of the slimmest making its rivals such as Alienware 7.1 pounds, Gigabyte P55W 5.8 pounds, and Digital Storm Equinox 4.2 pounds appear bulky.

The black, blushed-aluminum finish gives the slim machine a touch of class. However, the inky metals on the raised pair ridges leave some fingerprints. The famous red and white dragon emblem is backlit. It takes the lid center and combines awesomely with the red accents on the rear vents.

Banking on the previous Stealth laptop designs, the new MSI machine introduces a few slight adjustments. There is a notable orange power light that sits amid there, chrome-lined touchpad and the top-mounted heat vent.
The keyboard glows with fashion in its backlit, recess mode. There is a soft-touch, gray, textured material on the undercarriage.

On the right side, there is a USB 2.0 and a USB 3.1 Thunderbolt port. Other ports include HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, and power button and power port. To the left, there is a trio of the USB 3.0 ports and an SD card reader, secure lock slot, Gigabit Ethernet, mic and headphone jack.
Display

Enjoy your game with a double sensation thanks to the 60Hz display on the single Thunderbolt 3 4K connectivity.
Stealth Pro prides for its 1920×1080 matte display. The 15.6-inch panel brings out a colorful appeal. It has fine details.

When playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with Geralt will allow you to trudge through the deep waters, create ripples and enjoy a breathtaking gaming experience. The system can reproduce up to 111% of the sRGB color gamut, surpassing the category average of 90%. This edges out the P55W at 110% and the 60% from Alienware. It matched Equinox at 111%. The machine has a 1.9 color accuracy measure with a brightness score of 242 nits.

Specs and Performance

The MSI VR GS63VR Stealth Pro is a pack of modern gaming features. It comes with a powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-Series, which triple powerful than the prior GPU versions. The ultra-fast FinFET technology used here combines with high-bandwidth memory technologies. Enjoy cool, smooth and flawless gaming on DirectX 12 support.

The VR-ready machine utilizes modern gaming technologies that meet new gaming needs. This matches up the next-generation display demands such as the VR, multiple monitors, and ultra-high-resolutions. With the revolutionary NVIDIA Ansel technology, you can be sure to get cinematic, smooth and impeccable 360-degree game images that can be viewed in VR.

The MSI VR GS63VR Stealth Pro gaming machine is the real deal: a highly-portable, quality gaming powerhouse that perfectly replaces the mainstream gaming desktop machines. You can be sure to get value for what you pay for!

PROS:

Quality and attractive design.

Stable chassis, quality graphics, and performance.

Solid transfer speeds.

VR Ready gaming laptop.

CONS:

Below –par battery life.

May get hot when gaming for long.

Best Gaming Laptops Under 1000 2017

Computer gaming is often associated with powerful desktop systems or high-end, expensive laptop machines. Finding one that fits your requirements within a constrained budget is not an easy task.

Gaming laptops can put a serious dent in your account. Some cost up to $3,500. This should not worry you though. We have put together everything you need to know when shopping for a reliable gaming laptop under $1,000.

These are rather mid-range gaming powerhouse machines that stack a punch of features. You can be sure to enjoy modern titles within reasonable settings. You do not have to break a bank to have one of these.

Enjoy Witcher 3 among other modern games on medium and high settings for not more than $1,000. The daunting task is on which laptops to trust in this price range. We have outlined on some of the factors to consider when shopping for a quality gaming laptop under $1,000:

Brands that can be trusted in gaming

Quality display for effective gaming

Powerful processing capacity

Reliable graphics that can perform well

Memory that will be sufficient for gaming

Here are the best gaming laptops under $1,000 in 2017 you can buy now:

The relatively slim MSI, lightweight gaming laptop is built on a solid performance chassis. The 15.6-inch machine stacks modern features without being bulk. The G62 Apache Pro version is majorly characterized by its modest choice of the graphics card: a mid-range NVIDIA GTX 960M GPU. It is arguably the lowest in the G62 range with most of the versions running on high-end GTX 965M and GTX970M GPUs.

With an optional triple-SSD SuperRAID and multi-colored backlit SteelSeries keyboard, the machine combine perfectly with its 1920 x 1080 IPS LCD display. If you are looking for an all-around powerful machine within a tight budget, this is a real deal.

Created with a familiar and better look than ever, the MSI G62 Apache Pro machine has introduced a blend of classy colors that are not as bright. The low-tone colors give the machine a gamer’s look. In the past models, MSI’s angular styles have been a mark of class. The Apache Pro model has introduced a few twists. The lid and keyboard tops come in a finish of brushed aluminum sheets to give it a more premium appeal. There is a thin red strip that runs on the front edge with the styling illumination of the MSI Gaming Logo on the lid.

Much of the chassis lacks the finesse. Rubber nubs cushioning the lid look busy. The grilles and ventilation on the underside are in somewhat a chaotic feel. Picking up the laptop by the front edge with the lid open could flex it to press both trackpad buttons.

Features and Specifications

Running on Windows 10, the machine is built with familiarity. It is only better! It comes with a start menu that can be expanded and customized. You do not have to replace any of your stuff – it is compatible. Security is of the essence in this gaming laptop. There are timely protection prompt updates to ensure that the system remains current and updated. With its Technologies like InstantGo*, you can easily boot up and resume. Apps run optimally thanks to a system balance on the processor and memory resources.

Using MSI G62 Apache Pro machine induces a natural and personal experience. It comes with a digital assistant, Cortana. There are voice, gesture and pen features to aid in using the machine comfortably. One of the notable features includes the Microsoft Edge, an all-new browser that delivers impeccable web experience.

Built to run on an Intel Core i7-4720HQ processor, this gaming laptop under 1000 utilizes its 8GB of system memory to deliver quality performance. Gaming is made even more solid thanks to its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphics card. Apps and OS boot on the fast 128GB Solid State Drive (SSD). The storage space is sufficient thanks to an additional 1TB HDD. The machine features a DVD-RW drive with a full HD display support. There is an 802.11 ac Wi-Fi adapter and an E2200 LAN port. In addition, the system comes with three USB 3.0 ports from the left edge. It includes an Ethernet socket, mini DisplayPort, HDMI, mic and headphone jacks. To the right, you have a USB 2.0 port and an SD card reader. Connectivity is thus easy and fast.

This MSI gaming laptop offers quality results for gamers within $1,000. It has reliable features to deliver a solid performance. However, you need to learn the right settings for various games and when to compromise, since it cannot handle some powerful settings.

Price at approximately $900 – $1000, the Lenovo Y700 Full HD gaming laptop has established its mark in the gaming market. The quality gaming system from Lenovo offers a solid chassis and a bright display with quality sound and performance. The gaming laptop under 1000 delivers a solid performance on its powerful 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7-6700 (Skylake) CPU. This combines with the 16GB system memory (RAM) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 GPU to offer lag-free gaming experience even when handling other tasks.

Short battery life and a relatively spongy keyboard are some of the laptop’s notable foibles. Lenovo, however, ensured a reliable performance for the Lenovo Y700 HD gaming system. This is with a budget consciousness beyond any other choice in the market.

With a cruise control design, gamers can enjoy a breathtaking experience on the modern look of the Y700 HD device. There are few design changes from its predecessors in the line. From the Y50 model, only the capital ‘L’ on the Lenovo logo and the grille – in black and red – that have substantially changed. A black aluminum has been subtly crafted to make the lid. It has been brushed to give the lid a cross-hatch pattern. The keyboard deck is mostly black with a soft-touch finish. There are two thick aluminum speaker grilles on either side of the hinge. This is found on the top portion of the deck.

To say that the glossy black plastic finish gives the deck a dull, tired look is not much of an offense. This is in line with the trendy black-and-red motif that most laptops have nowadays. Another design flaw noticed in the Y700 gaming laptop is the fingerprint smudges picked so easily. By size, the Lenovo machine weighs 5.7 pounds, measuring 15.2 x 10.9 x 1 inch. It is lighter than the 5.9-pounds Dell Inspiron 15 7000 and the Alienware 15, which weighs 6.6 pounds.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The full-size island-style keyboard that comes with a full num-pad makes the machines a reliable gaming device. It has smilelike shape keys, a popular design from the Lenovo Ideapad line. The backlit keyboard is designed for use even in darker rooms. The highlight on the W, A, S and D keys is thicker. The touchpad gestures are reliably useful when gaming and when using the machine on various tasks.

Display, Gaming and Performance

Lenovo has stepped up their game since their last Y series laptops. As for the display, the Y700 HD laptop comes with a 15-inch 1920 x 1080 full HD panel that scores 263 nits. This is way above the category average of 244 nits. The machine display is reliable than its previous models.

On the Delta-E color accuracy test, the machine scored an impressive 0.7 with 0 as the ideal score. The machine produces only 60.8% of the sRGB color gamut. Enjoy a scintillating gaming experience with the new Lenovo Y700 HD gaming laptop. Thanks to its quality features, the system can handle modern games without lag. It comes with a reliable NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 GPU that has a cool 4GB vRAM. Playing modern titles on high settings is thus a reality with Lenovo Y700 laptop.

Playing Tom Clancy Rainbow, Six Siege proved a brilliant deal from the Y700 machine. It clocked an awesome 77 fps at 1080p on low settings. The notebook performed well on the Geekbench 3 with an overall score of 13,067. It runs on a powerful 2.6GHz, Intel Core i7-6700 CPU, and a 16GB RAM. Storage is fast and sufficient thanks to the double memory drives – 128GB SSD alongside a 5400-rpm 1TB HDD that can allow up to 108.3 MBps file transfer. During our test, the laptop stayed cool and silent even on high settings. However, on continued and heavy tasks, the laptop gets hotter on the keyboard and the bottom side.

If you are looking for a reliable gaming laptop with a low budget of $1,000, Lenovo Y700 HD should be the outright choice. It delivers quality results and never disappoints, once you get the hang of its needs. The budget matches its quality and performance.

PROS:

Features quality gaming attributes for a solid performance.

The price is attractive to budget gamers.

It has loud speakers with a vibrant audio.

The chassis is sleek and attractive.

CONS:

On the flipside, the battery life is poor, and the spongy keyboard is not a good feature.

It gets hot when in constant use.

Budget Everyday Gaming Laptop

Not everyone can afford to spend a huge sum of money on a gaming laptop. This could leave a serious dent in your account. If you are looking for a good gaming laptop that can be used for daily tasks including entertainment, within a squeezed budget, then here is all you need to know.

The market is saturated with options today. The need for more research is thus unavoidable. We have the understanding to help you beyond price issues. Our extensive marketing knowledge will be of great help in understanding the right specs and features that suit your daily and gaming PC.

No single laptop can be considered perfect for gaming. Almost every one of them, even the great ones, has their shortcomings. Most games are resource-intensive. This makes it paramount for every gamer to look for a highly featured laptop for a great experience. From temperature management to speeds and multitasking capacities, the true gaming laptop should be able to handle all the above effectively.

Things to Consider in A Budget Everyday Gaming Laptop

Price-to-performance ratio: There is need to balance between the price and performance of your gaming laptop. Everyone wants to spend less but get the best out of a laptop. Some laptops are built to deliver quality gaming results for a relatively affordable budget.

Graphics card: The specifications you consider for your machine are at the pinnacle of the machine’s performance. One of the core areas here is the GPU. For quality performance, you might have to fork some real cash. Modern GPU technologies have made the experience even funnier.

Effective cooling system: Look out for a laptop that stays cool for longer periods while gaming. Overheating laptops have a short lifespan. This slows down the performance of your laptop. Ensure that the fans deliver adequately.

Sufficient RAM and CPU: The processor and RAM form the basis for quality performance. Get a budget laptop with sufficient processing and RAM capacities for less, thanks to our information.

A powerful laptop designed to replace the powerful gaming desktop systems, yet at a very comfortable budget. The system delivers quality gaming results thanks to its 6th generation Intel Core i7 quad-core CPU. It runs on a discrete NVIDIA GTX 960 graphics card. This supports Full Direct X 12. With a powerful, high-speed SSD storage drive, the Asus device has a superior performance with fast and efficient data transfer.

With its Games First III, ASUS-exclusive gaming software, the laptop offers better packet prioritization with more gaming bandwidth. Memory upgrades are easy, and storage suits your needs in gaming. The device features a modern, efficient thermal design to ensure that the ROG device remains cool throughout. The unique design of this laptop features the F-22 stealth fighter-inspired lines. It has an angled surface offering dynamic and a great stance.

The keyboard is strengthened, seamless and one-piece. There are close to 100 solder points that are meant to bring out the solid feel in the laptop’s durable keyboard. There are red backlit keys with a 1.8mm key travel. The WASD keys anchor your hands when gaming.

The laptop comes with a pre-loaded, stable Windows 10 operating system. The eye-catching gaming aesthetics make the laptop a modern one than most of its competitors. To deliver the outright performance, the computer comes with quality gaming components. These can be replaced or upgraded easily to achieve better results. You do not need an expert to replace a storage drive or memory.

Comes in Full HD and with no glare problems. Gaming from different environments could go with some demands. For many, matte panels have proven reliable. The Asus ROG GL752VW gaming PC is designed for comfort in every environment. It has accurate colors with a vivid display. The display is made for all your daily jobs including entertainment, creative work, and gaming among others.

Quality audio is integral. For most gaming systems, the audio aspect is least prioritized. Asus has put in everything you need when gaming for ultimate fun. Fitted with an excellent AudioWizard and SonicMaster technology, the laptop provides quality sounds when gaming. It puts you in the mood for the game!

Exclusive ASUS GameFirst III Technology. This is a proprietary technology developed for ASUS gaming laptops. It is meant to deal with system lags. It optimizes the data flow when gaming over a network. It delivers a smooth gaming experience, with no lags.

PROS:

Designed with state-of-the-art performance.

Comes in Full HD and with no glare problems.

Amazing build quality and remarkable aesthetics.

CONS:

Unlike other gaming laptops, the audio aspect in this machine is least prioritized.

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